Customs releases rice, relief materials worth N3.2b as palliatives

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has released 46,000 metric tons of rice in 158 trailers and other relief items worth N3.2b to be shared to Nigerians during lockdown.

Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, who disclosed this in a release said, “Only edible items certified fit for human consumption by the National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control  (NAFDAC) would be released to members of the public.”

In a statement issued by Customs Spokesman, Joseph Attah, it listed other items to include 251 kegs of vegetable oil, 36,495 kegs of palm oil and 3,428 cartons of tomato paste

Others are, 2,951 cartons of spaghetti and noodles, 828 bales of wrappers (Ankara and 2,300 rolls of lace fabric with an estimated market value of N3.2b and Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N2b.

Ali expressed hope that the items would help to alleviate sufferings associated with the lockdown in parts of the country due the coronavirus pandemic, saying the move was in compliance with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive.

Reacting to the various comments on the social media calling Customs to share the seized food items, Ali explained: “In line with the provision of section 167 (2) of CEMA CAP C45 LFN 2004, seized items upon condemnation and forfeiture to the Federal Government by a competent court of jurisdiction are kept in government warehouses pending orders for their disposal.”